Basis for cumulative cultural evolution in chimpanzees: social learning of a more efficient tool-use technique.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The evidence for culture in non-human animals has been growing incrementally over the past two decades. However, the ability for cumulative cultural evolution, with successive generations building on earlier achievements, in non-human animals remains debated. Faithful social learning of incremental improvements in technique is considered to be a defining feature of human culture, differentiating human from non-human cultures. This study presents the first experimental evidence for chimpanzees' social transmission of a more efficient tool-use technique invented by a conspecific group member.

Methodology/principal findings

The chimpanzees were provided with a straw-tube, and spontaneously demonstrated two different techniques in obtaining juice through a small hole:

SUBMITTER: Yamamoto S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3559591 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature